Happy New Year!

Key word new. 2017 is here with all its possibilities and – based on the recent history of 2016 – plenty of surprises to be sure!

What will the New Year bring for you and yours?

As I contemplate what 2017 will mean for me and my family – my oldest daughter going to college (sniff, sniff), my middle one prepping for college exams, and my youngest getting her drivers license – I am more acutely aware than ever of how quickly time passes. New Years resolutions I’ve made over the years suddenly seem trivial. Sure, I’m always going to need to get in better shape, eat more organic, and be more organized with the finances. But none of this feels new. Each of these goals should be an ongoing endeavor year-round, not just a random fit of discipline that possesses me because the calendar rolled over to a new year.

What does feel new is an awareness that the only constant is change. And sometimes you have to paint the room to match the new furniture, so to speak. This can mean reaching out more to my community, those in need, and those who have different points of view. Putting aside old ways of seeing the world and striving for greater understanding, participation and improvement within my own community. After all, we’re all just humans, and we’re all in this together. As author Wayne Dyer famously said, “Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”

And while you’re pondering all the profundity of a fresh year, don’t forget to eat! Our theme this month is “Food & Wine,” and you’ll find plenty of epicurean delights close to home in the ‘burbs. Gone are the days of heading to downtown Denver for a good meal with fine wine; stay close in, reduce your carbon footprint, and spend less time driving.

Here’s wishing you and yours a Happy New Year, filled with love, peace and an embrace of the wonderful and endless possibilities 2017 can bring.